| Product Summary | | UPC: 04520227001414 | | Release Date: 10/25/2005 | | Buy.com Sku: 64009305 | | Item#: M2L69D | Format:  CD |
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Song Listing
| Disc 1 | | Song Title | Sample | | 1. To Hell With Poverty | ------ | | 2. Damaged Goods | ------ | | 3. Naturals Not in It | ------ | | 4. Not Great Men | ------ | | 5. Why Theory? | ------ | | 6. Anthrax | ------ | | 7. Paralysed | ------ | | 8. What We All Want | ------ | | 9. Ether | ------ | | 10. Hed Send in the Army | ------ | | 11. Capital | ------ | | 12. I Love a Man in a Uniform | ------ | | 13. At Home Hes a Tourist | ------ | | 14. We Live as We Dream, Alone | ------ | | 15. To Hell with Poverty ~ Go Home Productions Remix | ------ | | 16. Natural's Not in It ~ Ladytron Remodel | ------ | | 17. I Love a Man in a Uniform ~ Yeah Yeah Yeahs Remix | ------ | | 18. Ether ~ Into the Ether Tony Kanal Remix | ------ | | 19. At Home Hes a Tourist ~ The Others Remix | ------ | | 20. Not Great Men ~ Phones Extended Version | ------ | | 21. Anthrax ~ Faultline Remix | ------ | | 22. Damaged Goods ~ Hot Hot Heat Remix | ------ | | 23. Why Theory? ~ Amusement Parks on Fire Remix | ------ | | 24. Naturals Not in It ~ Repackaged by the Rakes | ------ | | 25. At Home Hes a Tourist ~ The Others Alternate Mix | ------ | | 26. What We All Want ~ Dandy Warhols Mix | ------ | | 27. Hed Send in the Army ~ Melvins Remix | ------ | | 28. Naturals Not in It ~ Tied Remix | ------ |
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Japanese edition contains the bonus cuts "He'd Send In The Army" (Melivin's Mix) and "Natural's Not In It" (Tied Remix) that are not included in the U.K.version. | | If 2005's RETURN THE GIFT were an album of completely brand new songs, it would likely be hailed as one of the best rock records in decades. However, since U.K. post-punk heroes Gang of Four first committed this material to vinyl in the late 1970s and early '80s, these re-recorded tracks, while excellent in their own right, come across more like a surprise visit from an admirably trim uncle. | | Make no mistake, these are some of the group's finest tracks, and the reunited original line-up sounds great. However, while Gang of Four was charmingly restless and angular on its initial outings, the quartet, for better or worse, is confident and loose on this set, which essentially serves as an updated version of the best-of collection A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 20TH CENTURY. In fact, RETURN shares much of that anthology's track list, including the blistering disco-punk classic "To Hell with Poverty" and the supremely funky "I Love a Man in Uniform," which ditches the prominent female backing vocals here. Although this album may seem, well, re-gifted to Gang of Four diehards, it serves as a useful bridge to the past for fans of Franz Ferdinand, the Futureheads, and other early-2000s acts clearly influenced by this pioneering band. | | Why let others reheat your back catalog when you can do it yourself? Maybe that's one of the questions Gang of Four asked themselves before recording Return the Gift, a self-tribute album involving re-recordings of their earliest and best work. While the reunion of the original members synched up with the popularity of several bands that were appropriating some of their ideas, one of the greater music-related motivators behind this release was...wait for it...correcting the drum sound. Drummer Hugo Burnham likened the drum sound on those releases to that of cardboard boxes, and some of the other members seemed to harp on it as well, in addition to regretting that the records never reflected their live sound, despite the nagging specters of greater imperfections in their past. To pick one imperfection out of thin air, the sound of 1991's Mall -- the entire thing, not just the drums or the awkward Bob Marley cover -- can be likened to a deflating whoopie cushion. More crucially, there has rarely been any dispute about the magnificence of the 1979-1982 releases, so it's not as if thousands, or hundreds, or even dozens of Gang of Four freaks spent the past 20 years pining for something like Return the Gift. But here it is anyway, and it's very loud, and it comes across like a mostly live album played in an empty meat locker. Like Wire (who re-recorded old material as well, but released it in a very limited form and then went on to make an album of new songs), the early-2000s version of Gang of Four is more caustic than ever. There are moments when the band seems as temperamental and charged as a downed power line. Burnham's drums do have greater presence, but that correction is evened out by some stiffness on everyone's part. While Gang of Four once thrived on a form of willful stiffness, they remained supremely limber, which is something that doesn't translate as much here -- it's not hard to imagine the band recording these versions in a cold room while wearing restrictive winter clothing. (Alright, being 25 years older might have something to do with the decreased agility.) One thing that remains unchanged, to no surprise whatsoever, is the enduring vitality of the material. The songs, concerning the politics of both self and societal interest, make as much sense today as they did when they were originally recorded and released. They also contain some of the most startling sounds you will ever hear. ~ Andy Kellman |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 10/13/2005 | | Original Release Date : 2005 | | Catalog ID : 22389 | | Label : V2 Records (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 45202270014142 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | Entertainment Weekly (No. 847, p.84)
- "...[B]rittle funk plus slashing guitars...This best-of shows the Gang still do it best..." - Grade: A-Mojo (Publisher)
(p.94)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "With no attempt to meddle with song structures, technology's advance means the original quartet's rebarbative funk squall simply sounds louder....Rejoice in the best Gang Of Four tribute album...ever." |
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